Recently I had the pleasure of interviewing two authors about their latest books. The first author, Debbie Stempien, has just released her book, Past Secrets, Present Lies.
Tell me what it is about.
It's a mystery centered around librarian Mattie O'Malley whose world starts spiraling out of control when her secrets and the secrets of others around her start to close in on her.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Time...I retired two years ago and decided to take advantage of having the time todo what I have always loved doing...write.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Just do it. NOW! If you wait for the right time, you will be waiting forever. I wish I had done this years ago.
What do you write and why?
I write mysteries because that's what I enjoy reading. Write what you know.
Are you working on anything new? Give us a preview of what's to come!
I am writing the second book in the Mattie O'Malley Mystery series.
A childhood friend seeks Mattie's help in escaping an abusive husband.
Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
My favorite book is Gone with the Wind. I've read it like 20 times.
My favorite author right now is Lisa Jackson. I love the suspense.
Where can readers find you and your work?
My website is pastsecretspresentlies.com also Amazon.com
The second author I interviewed, Dietrich Stroeh, has just released his book Three Months: A Caregiving Journey from Heartbreak to Healing as a Kindle ebook.
Here is what he had to tell my about his book.
What is it about?
This book recounts what it was like to be a caregiver to my wife who was unexpectedly diagnosed with Stage Four Pancreatic Cancer. It chronicles what it was like find myself in a situation I had never been in before. Within three months of the initial diagnosis, she was gone. So this book takes the reader on the journey I went on in order to lovingly say goodbye. It also serves as a guide that includes resources and recent articles I have written about being a caregiver- basically how to survive.
What inspired you to write your first book?
The first edition of Three Months: A Caregiving Journey from Heartbreak to Healing is paperback. I decided to write an eBook that included updated information, additional resources and more information about what I have learned as a male caregiver. The first book began as a series of notes I wrote at night to help make sense of each day's experiences. The notes also were a way for me to communicate feelings and fears I hadn't shared elsewhere. My hope was to offer something of value to others in the same situation.
Do you have any advice for other writers?
Write from the heart. I believe this is the best way to truly touch other people. Remember, readers are pretty smart. They can tell right away if a writer is being honest. When it comes to the final task, it's really, really important to bring in professional editors and copyeditors who know what they are doing.
What do you write and why?
I choose to write non-fiction, to tell a story about real events. Basically I have written two books and all of the work begins with my making notes to myself that eventually grow into something more.
Are you working on anything new?
Not at this time.
Who is your favorite author and what is your favorite book?
My favorite author: Aldous Huxley. He was a futurist who saw what many others did not see. My favorite book: Brave New World.
Where can readers find you and your work? This $7.99 book is available on Kindle.
Bio:
J. Dietrich "Diet" Stroeh is an engineer by trade. He has headed up projects great and small, and managed the Marin Municipal Water District in the midst of one of the worst droughts on record. That experience was the basis for his first book, The Man Who Made it Rain, co-written with Michael McCarthy.
He founded Stuber-Stroeh Associations, a civil engineering firm that grew into CSW/Stuber-Stroeh Engineering Group in Novato, California, with offices in Sonoma County as well as Sacramento.
He is a Director of the Golden Gate Bridge Highway and Transportation District and he sits on the Board of Directors of the Bank of Marin. He is active in the community and has sat on many state wide national boards.
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